Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1491555
5 4 G R A P H I C S P R O • A P R I L 2 0 2 3 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M R I S I N G T I D E O F B U S I N E S S | A A R O N M O N T G O M E R Y Aaron Montgomery is certified by New York Times best-selling author Jack Canfield as a Success Principles Trainer and is the co-founder of OurSuccessGroup.com. Aaron has over 25 years of experience with personalized products and small business development and is the co-creator of the "5 Keys of Business Success." You can also find Aaron co-hosting the decorator's industry podcast 2 Regular Guys Podcast (2RegularGuys.com). Also, check him out on his podcast channel called Small Business Saturdays (SmallBusinessSaturdaysPodcast.com). Specific Markets for Dye-Sublimation How having a niche can lead to more profitability T hose of you that know me, know that sublimation is one of my favor- ite decorating techniques due to the vibrancy, full-color capabilities, and durability. As a sublimator, it can be tempting to try and appeal to as many people as possible. After all, you want to make sales and gener- ate revenue, right? However, this approach can actually work against you and cause difficulty in attracting new customers. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, it's better to focus on a specific niche market and become the very best in that space. By doing so, you'll not only attract customers who are specifically looking for your products or services, but you'll also establish yourself as an expert in your field, which can lead to even more business opportunities. But how do you go about finding your niche market? e answer for me when it comes to these foundational questions is to look within. What is your instinct telling you? Start asking yourself the following questions: • What are my passions and interests? • What are my skills and expertise? • What are the pain points of my ideal customer? • What are some gaps in the market that I can fill? By answering these questions, you can start to narrow down your focus and identify a specific niche market that you can serve. Let's take a look at some potential niche markets for dye-sublimation decorators and how having a niche can lead to more profitability. Sports teams and clubs Sports teams and clubs are always in need of custom apparel, whether it's for uniforms, practice gear, or fan merchandise. As a dye-sublimation decorator, you can create high-quality, full-color designs that really make S U B L I M A T I O N these teams and clubs stand out. By special- izing in this niche market, you can estab- lish yourself as the go-to provider of custom sports apparel in your area. You can also leverage social media to showcase your work and attract new customers. Pet owners Pet owners are a passionate and dedicated group, and they love to show off their pets in any way they can. By offering custom pet- themed products such as photo blankets, pil- lows, and apparel, you can tap into this market and create products that really resonate with pet owners. Consider partnering with local pet stores and groomers to expand your reach. Small businesses and entrepreneurs Small businesses and entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to stand out from the competition, and personalized gifts, pro- motional type products, and merchandise can help them do just that. By specializing in this niche market, you can offer person- alized service and create unique designs that really capture the essence of each business and is more than the boring one and two color trinkets being offered by promotional products vendors. Non-profit organizations Non-profit organizations often rely on fundraising events and merchandise sales to generate revenue, and sublimation products can be a big part of that. By specializing in this niche market, you can create custom designs that align with the mission and values of each organization, which can help them raise more money and awareness. You can also offer a portion of the proceeds from each sale to the organization, which can help build goodwill and establish you as a trusted partner.